2024-09-19 04:52:24
IPRS: Sustainable aquaculture in Huila. In the Huila department, a fish farming technology has been positioned that allows for a greater amount of production from the recirculation of water, allowing for savings in water resources. While traditional fish farming can produce two kilograms per square meter, with the IPRS system it is possible to produce 100 kilos on the same surface.
HUILA DAILY, ECONOMY
By: Gustavo Patiño
IPRS: Sustainable aquaculture in Huila. Aquaculture in Colombia has found a powerful ally in IPRS technology – Integrated Periphyton-based Recirculating System, a method that is changing the rules of the game in the fish farming sector. This innovation, which arrived in the country about six years ago, has gained relevance in the last three or four years, allowing producers to significantly improve the efficiency in the use of resources, the sustainability of their operations and the productivity of their ponds. Edinson Henao, a fish farming professional at the Department of Agriculture of Huila, explains in detail how this system has revolutionized aquaculture in the region and the country.
IPRS is a technology that, according to Henao, has gained popularity thanks to its efficiency, especially in a context of increasing food demand and water shortages. “The IPRS system is a super-intensive system that has been in the country for several years now. I think the data estimate that the first trials began more or less six years ago, and it has gained greater relevance in the last three or four years,” explains Henao, highlighting the speed with which this technology has gained ground in the sector. The professional from the Piscícola line assures that this method is particularly useful in regions where water and land are limited resources.
Water use efficiency
In terms of water efficiency, Henao points out that the system is completely closed, meaning that the water used in the process is not lost. “The only water that enters this system is the water to compensate for the water that evaporates. Otherwise, the resource remains in it,” he says, stressing the importance of this aspect in a context of global warming and water scarcity.
“In a traditional system we are talking about consuming more or less three to 3.2 liters per second per hectare of land, depending on the system being implemented, and in the IPRS system, the truth is, this can be reduced by more than half. That, in one way or another, with global warming, with some difficulties in terms of availability of water resources, makes the activity continue to be promising not only for the department, but for the country.”
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Technology transfer
The IPRS system is the result of an international technology transfer. Henao explains that the initial development of the IPRS took place in China, where the first advances in the design were made. “It was a technology transfer that the Chinese started developing, it was improved in Germany and it was perfected in the United States,” Henao says, demonstrating how the IPRS has been the product of a global collaboration in fish farming innovation.
In Colombia, the system has found fertile ground in the Huila department, where producers have been quick to adopt the technology. According to Henao, more than 600 IPRS cells have already been installed in the department, and they currently have the largest IPRS in Latin America. “We have the largest IPRS in Latin America, it is a single lake of eight hectares with 32 cells installed and each cell is conditioned to produce between 20 and 25 tons of fish per cultivation cycle,” says Henao, reflecting the enormous potential of this technology to transform fish farming productivity in the region.
Maximizing production
One of the most surprising aspects of the IPRS is its ability to maximize fish production per unit of surface area. Compared to other productive sectors within agriculture, such as livestock or poultry farming, fish farming has a much higher level of productivity thanks to this system. Edinson Henao highlights that, in sectors such as livestock farming, production per hectare is much lower, with an average of 1.5 to 2 animals per hectare, while in the IPRS production is much higher. “There is no productive sector in the agricultural sector like fish farming; in these systems we can produce up to 300 tons of meat per year,” says Henao, comparing this figure with other agricultural activities such as poultry farming or pig farming, which usually produce between 15 and 17 tons per hectare.
The increase in productivity is due, in part, to the fact that the IPRS system allows for three cultivation cycles per year. This contrasts with traditional systems, which generally only allow for two harvests per year. Henao explains that, in a traditional system, the maximum production is 2 kilograms of fish per square metre, while with the IPRS it can reach 100 kilograms per square metre.
«We have three systems: a traditional soil system, which produces a maximum of 2 kilos per square metre; we have a semi-intensive soil system, which is the implementation or application of new technologies such as aeration, supplementation, use of probiotics, but I can produce up to 10 kilograms per cubic metre. In the case of IPRS, we can be talking about 100 kilograms, where we can produce up to 100 tonnes per hectare per crop cycle,» explains Henao, pointing out the significant difference in productivity between the different methods.
Simulate natural conditions
Another key advance of the IPRS is its ability to simulate the natural conditions in which fish live, especially those from rivers. This simulation of water currents not only improves the physical activity of the fish, but also optimizes their feed conversion, meaning that the fish can grow faster and more efficiently with less feed. “The IPRS system is basically like simulating the existence of a river, what it does is simulate that so that the fish are much more active and the issue of feed conversion improves,” explains Henao.
The system’s ability to foster more efficient feed conversion also means less resource use and better economic returns for producers. By creating more natural conditions for fish, IPRS not only improves the quality of life for the animals, but also translates into greater profitability for fish farmers. In addition to its impressive efficiency in terms of productivity and water use, IPRS is notable for its focus on environmental sustainability.
This system is designed to reduce the environmental impact of fish farming by properly managing the waste generated by the fish. Henao explains that the system has a solids extraction mechanism, which allows for the efficient removal of organic matter generated by the fish, including feces and other waste. This organic matter is treated through a disinfection process that includes bacteria, vetiver grasses and probiotics, allowing the water to be safely recirculated. “The water returns to the lake in the same condition or in optimal conditions for the fish habitat,” says Henao.
Ensures sustainability
This comprehensive approach to waste management not only helps to keep the water clean for the fish, but also ensures that fish farming is a much more sustainable activity in the long term. By reducing water consumption and minimising waste, IPRS aligns with global sustainability and environmental conservation goals.
The success of IPRS in the Huila department and other regions of Colombia shows that fish farming has a promising future in the country. As producers adopt technologies such as IPRS, fish production continues to grow sustainably and profitably, helping to meet the growing demand for food both in Colombia and globally.
In a world where the availability of water resources is increasingly limited and the demand for protein continues to increase, IPRS offers an efficient and sustainable solution. As Henao points out, this technology has the potential to position Colombia as a leader in fish production at a regional level, and Huila is at the forefront of this transformation. “The IPRS system has revolutionized aquaculture in the country, in a world where the demand for food continues to grow, it is a technology that is here to stay,” concludes Henao, highlighting the central role that this technology will play in the future of the Colombian agricultural sector.